Signature stitching mechanism



Filed Jan. 17; 1955 March 25, 1958 H. w. FAEBER 2,827,632

SIGNATURE STITCHING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hail-T H :13 IE.

- INVENTOR.

HA RRY W. FAEBER 2/5 zrraz/vzw' March 25, 1958 H; w. FAEBER SIGNATURE STITCHING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1955 INVENTOR. HARRY W. FAEBER March 25, 19548 H. w. FAEBER I ,82

SIGNATURE STITCHING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 17. 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HARRY w. FAEBER FIG. 3. BY

' fj/IM Filed Jan. 17, 1955 March 25, 1958 w, FAEBER 2,827,632

SIGNATURE STITCHING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR.

HARRY W. FAEBER 6/5 ATTOE/VEVST March 25, 1958 H. w. FAEBER 2,827,632

SIGNATURE STITCHING mcamzsm Filed Jan. 1?.- i955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG, 5.

' INVENTOR. HARRY W. FAEBER BY V zyu-M, o m-u" A/s ATTQGNEVF United States atent O SEGNATURE s'rrrcirnso MEcnANrsrvr Harry W. Faeber, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Time, Incorporated, Jew York, N. Y., a corporation of New Yorl;

Application January 17, 1955, Serial No. 432,255

(Ilairns. (Cl. 1-7) This invention relates to binding machines generally, and, in particular, to a machine of that general organization for stitching together a plurality of different folded sheets or signatures to form a book or booklet.

The binding machine of the present invention is especially applicable, although by no means limited, to a system for producing bound books or booklets in a continuous operation wherein a plurality of folded sheets or signatures are opened and received by a continuously moving conveyor, one on top of another in proper sequence to make up a book or booklet ready for binding, and the signatures transported by the conveyor to the binding apparatus of the present invention at spaced intervals. The compiled signatures comprising each book are received upon the conveyor with their folded edges or backbones at the top and the leaves thereof straddling the top of the conveyor and hanging downwardly on opposite sides thereof. The signatures are transported to the binding machine of the present invention in this manner, and the binding is inserted through the folded edges or backbones of the signatures.

The signature collating system is the subject of my copending application, Serial No. 442,149, filed July 8, 1954, and the conveying mechanism for transporting the collated books or booklets from the collating mechanism to the binding machinery is the subject of my copending application, Serial No. 454,536, filed September 7, 1954.

The actual binding or stitching unit of the present invention comprises a plurality of stitching devices mounted side by side to a horizontally reciprocating frame. The frame reciprocates back-and-forth in a path parallel to the travel of the conveyor, and the stitching action occurs while the frame is traveling in the same direction as the conveyor. Although the invention is not to be limited to a particular type of binding, in the preferred form the signatures are adapted to be held together by wire metal staples which are dispensed from and inserted into the backbones of the signatures by conventional stapling devices while an apparatus, known in the art as clincher mechanism, is raised to bend or flatten the ends of the staple wires against the center page crease in the usual manner. The clincher apparatus then quickly descends, as the bound book is transported by the conveyor to a collection station.

in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, two binding or stitching units are situated side by side, the stitching mechanism thereof operating in tandem with respect to the moving conveyor. The operation of each of the stitching units is such that it is adapted to bind together the signatures of every other compiled group transported thereto by the conveyor. The reciprocating frames of the two units are driven in out-of-phase relationship by common driving means, so that as one of the stitching units is traveling in the same direction as the conveyor during its operative stroke, the other frame is traveling in the opposite direction during its return or inoperative stroke. This arrangement, of course, permits 2,827,632 P atented Mar. 25, 1958 the heavy reciprocating frames to be driven more leisurely and reduces the stresses on the main base frames. In addition, provision is made for driving the reciprocating rarnes at a relatively slow speed during the return stroke, when a high speed is unnecessary, and for driving the frame at a more rapid speed during the operative stitching stroke when the higher speed is necessary to permit the stitching heads to approach and temporarily exceed the speed of travel of the conveyor during the actual performance of the stitching operation. It is, of course, understood that more than two stitching units operating in out-of-phase relation may be employed if desired.

For a complete understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the detailed description which follows and to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figs. lA-lG, inclusive, are illustrative front views showing the out-of-phase operation of the two binding and stitching units of the present invention in relation to the signatures being transported thereto by the conveyor for binding;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one of the binding and stitching units of the present invention, with portions of the conveyor mechanism broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the front portion of the machine broken away to show the driving means for the recriprocating frame which carries the stitching mechanism, as well as the driving means to actuate the stitching mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the driving mechanism of the unit shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. lA-IG, inclusive, a plurality of compilations a, b, a, b etc., of folded sheets or signatures, each comprising a hook or booklet, are transported at equally spaced intervals by a conveyor A toward a pair of binding and stitching units B, C, which reciprocate back-and-forth in directions parallel to the travel of the conveyor in out-of-phase relationship. Each of the stitching units is adapted to bind every other compilation of signatures, the binding operation occurring during the stroke of the unit in the same direction as the direction of travel of the signatures on the conveyor. Thus, by driving the stitching units in out-of-phase relation and having them bind every other compilation of signatures, it is possible to operate the conveyor at double the speed of that which would be possible if only one unit were provided, and at the same time hel to balance the stresses set up in the main supporting structure D.

The main frame structure D comprises vertical frames Di supported at their lower ends upon a base D2, and the vertical frames D1 are connected for added support by horizontal frames D3.

Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C represent the stitching unit C just before, during and just after the stitching operation, respectively, the stitching unit 5 being shown at difierent positions during its return or inoperative stroke in all three views. During this sequence, however, no signatures are indicated as having reached the stitching position. Fig. 11) represents the stitching unit B during its operative stroke just before the binding operation, and Fig. 15 shows the signatures I; being bound by the stitching unit B, the stitching unit C being shown at different stages during its inoperative return stroke.

it will be noticed that the compilation of signatures a is not bound by the stitching unit B, but passes during the inoperative or return stroke of the unit B. The reference Figs. 1F and 1G moreover, show the signatures a in positions just before and during the binding opera tion by the unit C, the unit B being represented in Figs. 1F and 16 during its return stroke. In Figs. lA-lG, inclusive, the direction of movement of the stitching units -the same YBQC f iS represented by the small arrows above theunits in each of the figures.

The conveyor Atravels in a closed circuit, first across an-upper: stretchiof the-supporting structure to carry the conveyor past -aseries of collection points (not shown) togreceive'thesignaturesin compiledabook form, to transport-them to the-bindingand stitching unitsB, C, and

finally to a-point of-discharge (not shown), and then 'aerossa lowerreturn stretch to carry the conveyor back againftothestaitingposition. V

/ The construction and-operation of the conveyor A and itssupporting-structure'is more fully shown and described .inthe above-identified, .co-pending application, however, it suflicesto-saylfor present purposes'that it comprises a pair of parallel-moving, flexible. linkages which travel side by side in a closedrectangular circuit about the fonnsprocket wheels 19. Asbest shown in Fig. -4,;the .linkages'carryoppositely and'angularly dis- 7 .posed platesor sheaths, 11, 121upon which the signaturestare received; and-supported, fopen atthe center with .the l eaves straddling the opposite sidesand the folded .edges thereof being aligned at the top suitable for the binding or stitching operation. The signature supporting sheaths or-plates 11, 12 are provided withoutwardly projecting partitions or separators 13 (see Figs. 2,-3 and especially 4) at spaced intervals therealong, forming pock- I a and spacer 25b are supported at their ends by the vertical-supports D1 of the main frame structure D. s

Wire w is' supplied to the stitching. heads 20 from spools (not shown) which may be supported upon spool The studs 26 are rearwardly studs 26 (see Fig. 4). disp'osedand mounted above the machine proper from a transverse member 27. The wire is unwoundfrorn the spools and passes through guidesZS (see Figs..2 and .4) which direct it to the s'titcher heads 20, the stitcher heads 2% being provided with wire feeding means which draw' 7 the wire in increments as it is'needed. The guides 28 are suspended above the-machine proper. by another transverseflhorizontal bar. 29,-and both the transverse bars 27 and ,29 a resupported at both "ends. from ver- 'tical columns 30 by brackets 31.

.ets between which the compilations of signatures in book form are accommodated.

While .theconveyor Ais engaged in collecting the signatures and transporting and presenting them to the stitch- I a ing units for binding, the conveyor travels along spacially separated, horizontal front and rear supports 14,. 14a.

The upper surfaceslof the supports 14, la'are' provided with;. rails ortracks, and the conveyor is provided with rollers 15 which ride upon the said 'railsr- It may be mentioned atthis point that there is a" separation between the 'upper ends of the front and rear plates or sheaths 11, Hand between the front and rear supports' 14, 14a to accommodate the aforementioned clincher mechanism (tobe described more fully'below) and The stitching headsq20 carried by the reciprocating slide frame21 are disposed immediately above thereonveyor and the signatures are transported beneath-the heads so .that thewire' staples may be inserted through the backbones or folded edges of the signatures. A clinching'mechanism 35, being.of standard design manu factured and sold by the Boston Wire Stitcher Company,

is associated with each of the stitching heads, and the three clinching mechanisms accommodatedbetween-the front and rear supports 14, 14a (see Fig. 4) of the 'c'om veyor A, also are carried by-thereciprocating-frame. ;As a a group ofsignatures to be bound approaches the stitch to provide access for the clincher mechanism to engage 1 the -fold" or backbone of the'bottom. signature in the compilation, during the stitching operation. After completing thetravel along the upper operative stretch of ,the circuit, the conveyor passes'around upper and. lower I sprocket wheels 10 and begins its return travel alonga As best'shown in lower stretch in inverted'fashion. Fig.4, the conveyor is supported duringithe return trip upon rails or tracks mounted from the angle bracket 16 bolted to the base D2 of the main frame 'D.

rnentioned above,.-the stitching units B, C, although operating in out-of-phase relationship from a common drive means, are identical in all respects, and

a itis' deemed necessary to show and describe but-one in 'detail. I Accordingly, the stitchingunit C has been illustrated in considerable detail-in Figs. 2-5, inclusive,

and unless otherwise sp ecified, the description 7 of the parts. andma'nner of operation of the stitching unit B -is I Referringto' Big. 2, threeiconv'entional Y wire stitching heads. 20, preferably stapling devicesof the" type sold by the conveyor. I

the signatures'are thus raised throughout their travel 'being unit,'they engage thelinclinedleading edge of a plate 34a (see Figs. 2 and 3) which slightly raises the folded edges of the signatures above the conveyor, although the engagement of the outward pockbforming projec-' tions 13 insure the continued advance of the signatures Plates 34b, 34c and 34dinsure that' heath the stitchingheads. 1 a

The clinching mechanisms are disposed between the' 'pl-ates 34a and 34b,"between the plates 34band 340,:

eoifimerciallytunder the trademark Bostitch, by the s I Boston Wire- Stitcher .Cor npany, aremounted side; by 7 side" in framework' .19 which, in turn," is'mounted tothe l front of a reciprocating framelZlI By'means to be de scribed .below,-the framework 19.is supported by the' vertically disposed members'19a, and the members 19a may be adjusted vertically-in relation '10 the slide frame gl topermit theframework19"and the Bostitch heads 26 ,carried'jthereby tobelocated a proper distance above thepconveyoraand Eabove clinching ,mechanism .35 to be 7 'describedilff'he uppefi 'end oftheframe 2 1- is slidably mouhtedon: a heavytransverse shaft -22,- and the? lower 7 i en'd of thegslide frame '21 isprovided with a roller.24

' .(SeeEigst 2 and-4)" whieh'travels on-atransverse guideand between the'plates 34c and 34d, respectively. The

clinching mechanisms are vertically slidable, and -at-the time of the'stitching operation, the clinching mechanisms 35 are raised toengage the ends'of the staplesinserted through the center folds of the signatures and to bend,

the inserted ends of the wire staples against the folded edge of the center page. Thereafter, the clinching mechanisms.descend,'and'the bound book or booklet is transported away from the stitching unit by the conveyor; 1 a

As' best shown in Fig.2, the' clinching-meehanisms 35 7 are carried at the upper ends'of vertically slidable bars 36'which'are connected at their lower ends to a common horizontally disposed carriage 37. The carriage 37--is provided with rollers 38 which-travel alongthe upper cam surface of'a cam member-39'with the reciprocating frame 21; E The horizontally disposed carriage is'guided for up and-down movement in guides or ways-416i} forwardly extending portion 21aof the reciprocating slide 21, and the bars 36 also slide in guidesdt) supported-by the frame portion 21a, which; as best'shown-in' Fig: 4, extends forwardly fI'OlTl'lhC lower end of the reciprocat ing frame 21.

The cam member 39 is formed :with raised surfaces coinciding" with thepoint at whichthe stitching-action takes placeduring the operative stroke of the recipro cating 'frame, 21 'andthe-fclinching apparatus, and'the rollers 38 engage-ther-aised surfaces at the same time to raise-theca'rriage 37, thereby lifting the clinchingmech anisms '35 into-operative engagement with thefstaples."

. The further forwardhiovement 'of'the reciprocating slide 21 moves therollers=3S 'past'the raised surfaces on' the carn 'n1'ember- 39 and permit's 'the clinching mechanisms 35 to descend. The carriage 37 may be permitted to descend by gravity, but preferably it is returned by spring pressure. The clincher supporting carriage 37, of course, will also be raised by the cam surface during the return travel thereof, however, the stitching heads 20 are not actuated during the return stroke and a stitching operation does not take place.

The manner of driving the reciprocating slide frames 21 or" the stitching units B and C in the main frame structure D and the actuation of the operating parts of the units will now be described. Both stitching units B and C are driven by the main drive shaft 45, best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, transversely supported in bearings 46 mounted at the rear of the vertical upright supports D1 of the main frame structure. Referring to Fig. 5, power to drive the stitching units is transmitted through bevel gears 47 mounted on the shaft. Although not shown in the drawings, the drive shaft may, by suitable gearing arrangement, be utilized to drive the conveyor A.

Each of the bevel gears 47 engages a companion bevel gear 48 associated with the stitching unit in question. The driven bevel gear 48 is rotatably mounted on a short fore-and-aft shaft 49 mounted at the rear of the stitching unit in the main frame structure D4 and the bevel gear 48 is rearwardly disposed on the shaft to engage the driving bevel gear. A pinion 59 is formed on the hub at the front side of the bevel gear 48, and it engages and drives two large gear wheels 55 and 56, the upper gear wheel serving, by means to be described, to reciprocate the slide frame 21, and the lower gear wheel 56 serving, also by means to be described, to control the various operations of the stitcher heads 20.

Considering first the driving means for the reciprocation of the slidable frame 21, the upper gear wheel 55 is mounted at the rearward end of a fore-and-aft crank shaft 57 rotatably mounted in bearings 58 and 59 of the frame structure D4. The forward end of the crank shaft carries the crank arm 69, and the crank arm 60 carries a forwardly projecting stud or pin 61 fitted with crosshead 61a which is adapted to travel in a longitudinal slot 62 formed in a large pivotally mounted reciprocating lever 63. A collar or washer 64 may be attached to the forward end of the pin or stud 61 to maintain the crosshead within the slot.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the large reciprocating lever 63 is pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a shaft 65 supported above the base frame D2 by a block 69, and the reciprocating arm is connected at its upper free end to the slide frame 21 by means of a horizontally disposed link 67. One end of the link 67 is connected to the frame 21 by means of a pivot pin 68 and the other end is connected to the reciprocating lever by a pivot pin 66.

Thus, it is understood that the reciprocating motion is imparted to the slide frame 21 by means of the pivotal reciprocation of the lever 63 through the link 67. In turn the reciprocating motion is imparted to the lever 63 from the main drive shaft .5 through the gear wheel 55 and the crank arm 60 of the shaft 57, the pin or stud 61 of the crank arm traveling in a circular path carrying the crosshead 61a which is adapted to slide within the vertical slot 62 of the lever 63.

As shown in Fig. 3, the crank pin 61 travels in a counterclockwise direction and since the crank pin travels in a circular path at a constant speed, a greater portion of the circle described thereby will be devoted to moving the slide frame in the return stroke, and a smaller part of the circular path will be devoted to moving the slide frame in the direction of the path of travel of the conveyor during which the stitching operation occurs. The angle x represented in Fig. 3, represents that portion of the are which is devoted to moving the slide frame in its operative stitching stroke, and in the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the angle 2: 'is approximately 150. Thus, it is clear that the speed 6 of travel of the slide frame is increased during its operative stroke so that the stitcher heads may be traveling at approximately the same speed as or greater speed than the conveyor and the signatures to be stitched during the operative stroke, and the speed decreased to permit more leisurely travel of the slide frame during its return or inoperative stroke. It is believed that this is an important feature of the machine because the maximum speed of the slide frame is increased and accelerated only at the point where such increased speed and/or acceleration is necessary, and decreased during that portion of the time when increased speed is unnecessary and even undesirable. An advantage of accelerating the stitcher frame to exceed the speed of travel of the conveyor during the stitching operation is that the signature will be moved ahead of the separators 13 during this period to prevent damage to the edge of the signature by contact with the separators while the signature is being advanced under the control of the stitcher mechanism.

As mentioned above, the various operations associated with the stitching heads are controlled by the lower gear wheel 56. There are three essential operations associated with the stitching heads, namely feeding the wire, cutting and forming the wire into staples and driving the staples into and through the backbones or folded edges of the signatures. The mechanism for performing these operations is conventional and built into the Bostitch heads, and, it is customary, as in the present embodiment wherein three heads are mounted side by side, to provide means for operating the corresponding mech anism of each head simultaneously.

According to the present invention, two horizontally disposed actuating rails 76 and 71 are mounted for vertical movement in the frame 1? immediately behind the stitching heads 24), and these actuating rails serve to operate the necessary mechanism of the stitching heads, the upper rail 7% actuating the mechanism of the stitching head to advance the wire and to drive the staple into the backbones of the signatures, and the lower rail 71 actuating the Wire bending or staple forming mechanism of the stitching head and a slidable element housed within the stitching head which is lowered to bring the staple into position for insertion. The horizontal rails 79, 71

are guided at their ends in guides or ways at the front.

of the frame 19, and the actuation of these rails is controlled by the rotation of the gear wheel 56 through mechanical linkages to be described.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the lower gear wheel 56 is mounted on a fore-and-aft shaft 75 rotatably mounted in the bearings 76, 77, 78 of the main frame structure. The forward end of the shaft, or the left end thereof as viewed in Fig. 4, carries thereon two cams 3i and 81. The rearwardly disposed cam 30 (that is to say, the rightwardly disposed cam as viewed in Fig. 4} controls the operation of the upper wire feeding and driving rail 76, and the forwardly disposed cam 31 (that is to say, the leftwardly disposed cam as viewed in Fig. 4) controls the operation of the wire forming and bending rail 71.

The cams 8i and 81 operate through mechanical linllages which include the transversely and symmetrically disposed bell crank levers 85, 86, the vertically disposed connecting rods 87, $3 and the transverse rock shafts 9t rotatably journaled at their ends in bearings of the main frame structure D. As best shown in Fig. 3, the bell crank levers 85, 86 are pivotally mounted at 5 1, 92, respectively, to the base of the main frame structure mem ber D.

Turning now to a description of the operation of the upper wire feeding and staple driving rail 7d, the bell crank lever 85 is formed with a cam follower arm 85a carrying at the end thereof a roller 85b which may he engaged by the cam surface of the cam 80, and another aim 85c angularly disposed with respect to the cam follower arm to which the lower end of the vertically The upward "anddo wnwa'r'd 115 rocks the shaft-'120,'loeat'ed justabove the shaft 106, a by means of the lever 121. V The lever 1121 is mounted V a at its C6l1t$l' to the left end of the shaft 120, therear end thereof is free to slide on the shaft 113 TheIight head of fthe sh'aft Edd-carries a forwardlvr'di'sposed' arrn' and the forward "ends of the lever"121"andfthe" am conn'ec'tedby means-of shortilinks 126 to see rid e disposed connecting trod 87 is lpivotally attached. The" 7 upper endof the rod 87 is pivotallv connected to the forward end of-anarm (see Fig. ,5) aifiired to the--- rocklshaft89. By mean's of the connection above described, the rock shaft '89 is adapted to be pivotally rocked or oscillated at predetermined times by the cam 80.

Each end of the rock shaft 89 is provided witha for-r wardly disposed lever (see Figs. 4 and 5) and the forwardly disposed oscillating endsof these levers are connected by means of rods 101 to an upper transversely V disposed shaft 102 which is mounted-at each end within ar'cshaped guides 103. Asbest shown in Fig. 4,- the arc-shaped guides 103 are mounted to one of the cross.

members 'ofthe main frame D'liy means of'brack ets 104. Thus, the oscillation of the rock shaft 89 controlled byfthe'cam 30 effects the upward and downward translation of the shaft 1'02inthecurved guides 103, and this a movement of the shaft 103 is transmitted through a lever 'to a rock shaft 106,sthe lower of two horizontally disposed shafts mounted centrally and at the upper end of the slide frame 21 between a pair of vertical slide' members 107. f The lever 105 is attached to the right end (as viewed'from the front in Figs. 2 and 3) of the rock shaft 106, and theasaid'rock' shaft serves as a center pivot fo'r'the lever'105, the rearward end being slidabl y mounted along the shaft 102, for a reason to be described,

and 'the'front end being connected to the right end' of the actuating rail 70 b y rn eans of a connecting link 108. The leftend'of the rock shaft 106'carries a forwardly disposed arm 109-whichis connected to the left end of the eerie =tiiaiiiig"*ra11fi1,;ss that lthefoscillationjofl t e; shaft 1201 raises andlowers thee-rail 71'toeffect 3 simpl taneously} the lwireeb'endingeorgstaple forming operations of all of the stitchingheads simultaneously.

ported: by the: conveyor f Ioward thisend, the frame-z work 19' which carries the Bostitcha-heads 20 is adapted-to a be verticall yladjusted "under .thescontrolnofthe-slide} members .107, which are themselvesverticallyadjustable in. guides or ways-of upright posts 129 *ofthe slide frame 2i by means ofseccentricsor cams; (.not:shown); attached 7 at the exnremeends :ofla transverse shaft 130. Thetrans-m verse adjusting shaft is trotatab'ly mounted between? the upright-postsvl29 of the slide framelLandgtheshaft is adapteditos rbe. rotatably adjusted vby means; of;

' hand wheels'lfiglrriounted thereon; Each offithe wheels-n 132 may vhave a plurality of holes spaced around the actuating rail 70 by means of another connecting link 108. 7

Thus, the {upward and downward translation of the shaft 102 injthe guides 103 rocks the shaft 106 through V the lever 105; and the levers 105 and 109'mounted at opposite ends on the rock shaft 1 06rtranslate the transverse actuating rail 70 upwardly .andfdownwardly to operate the wires feeding; mechanism of the stitching heads 2%, as Well as the mechanism for driving the staples through the signatures to be bound s The operation of the lower actuating rail 71' which operates the wire bending or staple forming mechanism of the stitching heads 20 and which lowers thestaple into position for insertion may now be'described. The operating parts are very similar to the operating parts described above 'in connection with the operations [of the actuating rail 70.

crank lever 85, has a follower arm-.8 61: carrying a cam followergroller 86b and another arm 86c 'pivotally cone nectedto the lower end of the connecting rod 88. The upper end of the connecting rod :88; fasbestshownrin' Fig.7 5, is pivoted to the forwarden'd or an arm 110 attached to the transverse'rock shaft 90. The transverse rock shaft 90 'is mounted: to the :left, but somewhat hig ner than the correspondinggshaft 89.- Eachjend-fof the'rock shaft 90 is provided witha forwardlydisposed Y lever armf111,1and.the"ends of these lever -arm's are I 7 connected by rods 112 'to a horizontally disposed shaft "113 which is mounted at each end within arc-shaped guides 114. 7 Thus, by means of the above-described mechanism, the operation of the-cam 81 imparts oscil- "latingarotation to the rock shaft -90 which, in: turn, is tranjsmittedto raiseand lower the shjafti113 in the arcshaped guides 114. 5

al slides 127- imam-ea within ttheframe #19. The

' lower'encls"of=th slideIZTare attaEhed'to opposite'ends The'operation of the rail 71 1s controlled by'tth e cam: 81 and the 'bell crank lever 86- which, like the hell 7 translation of the shaft 1 periphery thereof, and-a key or. handle may be inserted in theholesto permit theshaft to be-manually adjusted.v V The eccentrics-or cams (not shown) at the extremetends ofthe shaft130are located just beneath thes-slidememe.

bers 107, so thatthe rotation of the shaft130 willgmove;

the members- 107 upwardly or downwardly ass-desired. i The upper ends of the. slide members 101 serve as; center supports for 'fore-andaft, horizontally disposed levers: 137 (see Fig. 4) anchored attheir rearwardz'endso to supportingr brackets 138 of the slide frame. 21.. The:

forward endssof the levers 137 are connected bymeansvt of connectingrods 140to theupper-ends of the' v erticalmembers 19rzby means of which the framework 19 supported; Th us with the-rearwardly disposed 'endss;

anchored to the brackets;.138;l1the upward and .down p i ward adjustmentgofazthe slide members .107; permits'thea Vrnovem'ent of the forward free ends of the levers 137 to,- a V raise orxlower; theframework 19 as desired. It is .t0 be pointed out that;v the-timing of the stitching operation; is; not affected b'y the up and down adjustment of the fIam'eJ-, work 19 just;described-,. because the pivot points of the. :17 stitcher actuatinglever's 125,112]; and 105 are also mount-r 7 edin thecvertical1slides 107. Thus, if vertical slide.107

' j of the signatures comprising a complete book or booklet.- Referring :to Eigst 4 and:.5,f it' wil'lbe observed thatthe J driving fpowe'r forlthe operation ofthe stitching heads- 20 isadjusted, the leftthandf ends (as viewedin Fig.4)" of 1 levers 137;;125, and of; the horizontal leverzconnected tor: the upper endjof link 108, all move up and downr in'i unison Furthergassurance of:1this icondition lies inatl'ie fact that the righthand endsof levers-137, 121sandc105t-i are all'l'oca'te'd on substantially theesame verticalJcentne V linen.v t The: present "invention. isxpro'videtl'v with .means were vent the operatiomofithe stitchiiig. heads: 20 under cer tm'nii'conditions, such.- as, for example, in the event that: a particular pocket of? thet' qonveyo'rv has} not} received a lf isl'transmitted ifrom theg'ear wheel 56 itothe s'haft75 by fme'a'ns "of the engagement :of a pawl 152, pivotally f mounte'd'at 152a to one of the 'spokes of the gear wheel; 7 V jwith'a notch'e'd'shoe 153' of a 'c'lutchldisc 154 mounted'o'n 7 the shaft"s75;[ The pawl 152is normallyi spring urged;

into operativefengagement with the shoe 153, but his scapableof'bei'rig pivotallyrota tfed againstthc springipr' surejto'dis' cbnriect thegear wheel '56sa ndthets haft75i a V Theshaft75isalsoprovided'with a bi-akerlrumliioandi afbrakejband ilfil' which mfayab e operatedftobringgthetl The clutch and brake mechanisms are controlled bya solenoid 150 (see Fig. mounted at the back of each of the stitching units B, C. The solenoid is adapted to be controlled by a memory unit (not shown) which receives information from the sheet inserters which assemble the sheets on the conveyor A. In the event that a particular pocket of the conveyor has not received all of the signatures to make up a complete book or booklet, that information will be sent to a memory unit (not shown) where it will be stored until that particular book or booklet is about to be stitched, whether it be by the unit B or the unit C, at which time the solenoid 150 of the appropriate unit will be operated to disengage the clutch and to apply the brake mechanism during that particular cycle of the machine so that the incomplete book will not be stitched. Thereafter, although forming no part of this invention, the defective or incomplete book is delivered by the conveyor to a reject station so that the missing signatures can be inserted.

To effect the disengagement of the clutch, the solenoid 150 is connected by means of the connecting rod 15011 to a pivotal clutch throw-out lever 155. The throw-out lever 155 is provided with four arms 155a, 155b, 1550 and 155d, the rod 1519a of the solenoid being connected to the arm 15511. The arm 15512 is acted upon by a vertically disposed compression spring 159 which normally maintains the throw-out lever 155 in inoperative position. The arm 155a of the throw-out lever 155 is connected by means of a pin 156 to an elongated slot of a pivotal cam member 157, and the clockwise operation (as viewed in Fig. 5) of the lever 155, as controlled by the energization of the solenoid 159, interposes the cam member 157 in the path of the release end of the clutch pawl 152. The clutch pawl 152 is thereby disengaged from the clutch disc 154 to break the driving connection to the mechanism which operates the stitching heads 20.

At the same time, through suitable linkage arrangement, namely the arm 155d, link 162 and the bellcrank 163, braking pressure is applied to the brake band 161, thereby applying friction to the brake drum to stop the shaft '75. The actual force required to tighten the brake band 161 is exerted by spring 166, after the toggle formed by link 162 and arm 1551': is broken by a clockwise rotation of lever 155 caused by the energized solenoid.

When the incomplete book or booklet reaches the stitching position, the solenoid 150 is energized through the memory unit and the throw-out lever 155 is pivoted to shift the cam member 157 into position to trip the pawl 152, thereby disengaging the gear wheel 56 and the shaft 75. At the same time, the brake 161 is applied to stop the further rotation of the shaft 75 to prevent the operation of the stitching heads 20 during that cycle of the stitching unit. If during the next cycle of operation the solenoid 150 is de-energized, the pawl 152 will re-engage the clutch disc 154, cam 150a which is formed on the flange of brake drum 160 will depress arm 163 and thus allow lever 15512 and link 162 to form the toggle as shown in Fig. 5 which locks the brake lever 163 in the released position, and the stitching operations will continue as usual until the solenoid is again energized.

Summarizing the operation of the present invention, the compilations of signatures forming a book are advanced by the conveyor A to the stitching units B and C, and the reciprocating frames 21 of the stitching units, as described above, reciprocate in out-of-phase relationship, each unit stitching alternate books delivered by the conveyor. The books are carried in straddling fashion by the conveyor with the folds at the top, and the conveyor introduces the book to be stitched between the stitching heads 20 and the companion clinching elements 35 during the forward stroke of the moving frame. 'I'hereupon, the clinching elements are driven upwardly, moving between the plates 11, 12 of the conveyor, for the stitching operation. The clinching elements 35 are carried by the carriage 37, and the rollers 33 travel across the cam surface of cans member 39, which cam surface controls the raising and lowering of the clinching elements 35. The carriage 37 is carried by the reciprocating slide 21, so that the carriage moves in synchronism with the slide.

The stitching heads and the clinching elements move together at a speed slightly faster than the speed of the conveyor, so that when they engage the book to be stitched, the book is advanced ahead of the separators 13 of the conveyor. The reciprocating motion is imparted to the slide frame 21 by means of the pivotal reciprocation of the lever 63 (see Fig. 3) which is pivoted at its lower end and connected at its upper end to the slide frame by means of a link 67. Reciprocation is imparted to the lever 63 by the rotation of a crank arm 60, the pin or slide 61 thereof being accommodated in the longitudinal slot 62 of the lever 63.

The operation of the stitching heads 20 are controlled simultaneously by the horizontal actuating rails 70, 71 which are mounted for vertical displacement immediately behind the stitching heads. The upper rail 70 actuates the mechanism of the stitching heads to advance the wire and to drive the staples into the backbones of the books, and the lower rail 71 actuates the wire bending or staple forming mechanism of the stitching heads and lowers the staple toward the signature in preparation for the insertion thereof. The operation of the rail 70 is controlled by a driven cam and the operation of the rail 71 is controlled by a driven cam 81.

The operating linkage by means of which the cam 80 operates the rail 70 includes the vertical rod 87 controlled by the cam, the arm of the rock shaft 89, the rod 87 being connected to the arm and thereby imparting movement to the rock shaft 89, the levers carried by the rock shaft 89, the transverse shaft 102 mounted within arc-shaped guides 103, and the rods 101 connecting the levers 100 and shaft 162. Thus, the rotation of the cam 80 imparts predetermined movement to the shaft 102, moving the axis of the shaft 102 upwardly and downwardly in a curved path. The reciprocating slide frame 21 carries a lever 105, the rear end of which is slidably connected to the transverse shaft 102, thereby permitting the lever to be actuated, although it is carried by the reciprocating slide frame, and the lever 105 is connected to the rail 70 by means of the links 103. The curvature of the slots in the guides 103 permits the lever 105 on shaft 106 to be pivotally operated.

The operating linkage by means of which the rail 71 is actuated by the cam 81 includes a vertical connecting rod 88 controlled by the cam 81, the arm 110 of the rock shaft 90 which connects the upper end of the rod 88 to the rock shaft 90 for the reciprocation of the latter, an am 111 of the rock shaft 50, the transverse shaft 113 supported in arc-shaped guides 114, and the rods 112 connecting the arms 111 and the transverse shaft 113. A rearwardly disposed lever 121 of the reciprocating frame 21 is slidably connected to the transverse shaft 113, so that the lever 121 may be actuated even though it is carried by the reciprocating frame. The curvature of the slots in the guides 114, as in the guides 103, permits the lever 121 on shaft to be pivotally operated. The lever 121 is connected to the rail 71 by the linkage which includes the arms 125 of the rock shaft 120, the vertical slides 127 and the links 126 connected at their upper ends to the arms 125 and at their lower ends at the slides 127.

It is evident, therefore, that by means of the abovedescribed operating mechanisms the stitching heads 20 and the clincher elements 35 may be actuated during the reciprocation of the slide frame 21 in synchronized relationship with the feed of the books on the conveyor A.

The present invention has been shown and described in preferred form and by way of example, and obviously many modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is understood, therefore, that the present invention is not to a "11. be l m ted to y s e i f rm 0r eebod zaem exce ot rzas h m t fiqns a e e res sd'ii the claims -Ic1aim: V I s 11. Ina machine for stitching signatures, a con binatiQn of a mainframe structure, a reciprocating frame supported in said main frame structure; aplurality oif stitching means carried by thefreciprocating frame, an actuator for said'stitching means, the operation of said actuator effecting; the operation of said stitching means, a mechanicallinkage including a pivotal lever and a transverse member serving to operatethe said actuator, the -0ne carried'by the reciprocating frameandithe other mounted to the main frame strnctureQgti-ide means for guiding said transverse member in a curved path relative to the pivot for the lever and 'a slidableconnection between the transverse member and the pivotal lever whereby the stitching means maybe operated while carried by the-reciprocating frame.

:2. A'comhinanon as set forth in claim 1 wherein the guide meansifor guiding the transverse member coinprises brackets which support the transverse memberat both ends, said brackets having arc-shaped slots; whereby the transverse member is in an ar cuate p athl 3. A combination'as set fofthin claim 2 including an oscillating shaft for controlling'the operation of the nausaverse member, and

V a cam for effecting the oscillation or theshaft.

4. In a machine for stitching signatures assembled in book form, a main frame'structirreQa reciprocating frame supported in the main frame structure, stitching means and clinching means carried by the reciprocating frame, means for supporting the signatures to be stitched between the s i h n me n an the l a n i a s wi elsa es of t e si nat r st a dl ng fli su po n m n me ns for a tua in the s chin m n n astafionary m track mounted to the mainframe structure for moving the clinching means toward and away frem the signatures b t t h t a, V v a 5.: In a, machine for stitching signatures assembled in book form, the combination of a main frame structure, a reciprocatingirame supported in the main frame structure, stitchingmeanscarried by the reciprocating frame, a carriage movable .withtthe horizontally recipr ocating frame, clinching means carriedby the carriage; said car- Refe en s C ted i h fil Q h s p e UNITED STATES PATENTS 663,630 Julian Dec. 11,

1,344,441 Christensen June 22,- 1920 1,353,989 Christensen Sept, 28, 1920 1,608,838 Christensen Nov. 30, 1926 1,791,081 'Seiter Feb. 3, 1931 2,152,137 Faeber Mar. 28, 1939 

